Anna Maria Dreamin’ — A Photographic Tour

We at Florida Culture were surprised to see a billboard on I-275 near St. Petersburg/Tampa encouraging Republican Convention attendees to visit Anna Maria Island near our town of Bradenton. Anna Maria seems removed from the hustle and bustle of national politics…but then again, maybe that’s the appeal.

The slideshow seen above can give you a sense of what you might expect on Anna Maria. Over a two-day period, we recently tracked some beautiful beach and bay views on Anna Maria Island from sunrise to sunset. Although Anna Maria’s recent national advertising campaign is attracting more crowds, you can still feel like you’re in “Old Florida” in Anna Maria–low rises, lots of bike riding, a free trolley, eclectic shopping, and an overall laidback feel.